Pharmaceutical internships provide pharmacology students with hands-on professional experience working in hospitals, research laboratories or drug companies, as they prepare for full-fledged pharmacy careers. Pharmacy internships not only supplement academic classroom learning, but also increase your professional market competitiveness for future pharmacy positions. Most universities differ in their qualification requirements for interns; some require students to have completed their sophomore year or be enrolled in an accredited or pending accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program prior to applying for an internship.

1. Inquire at your school's Department of Pharmacy on the availability of pharmaceutical internships or fellowships. Review the list of internship options and select those most in line with your qualifications, current GPA and career interests. Adjust or update your resume or curriculum vitae, if necessary, to fit each internship opportunity. Complete a Pharmaceutical Sciences Orientation course, if necessary.

2. Apply for the pharmaceutical internship or fellowship of your choice according to specific guidelines. Some applications will require you to draft a letter of intent. You will also need to obtain at least two letters of recommendation from faculty or a relevant professional, such as a pharmacist or lab director. Turn in your complete application package by the specified deadline. If you are selected, an administrator will notify you by phone or e-mail to set up an interview.

3. Proceed with your internship interview either by phone or in person. Answer each question confidently and enthusiastically, demonstrating your ambitions for pharmaceutical work. Elaborate about specific relevant courses, as well as work experience in labs, drugstores or clinics, to further demonstrate your interest in contributing as a pharmacy professional. Thank the interviewer appropriately with a handshake and follow up with a thank you letter, if possible. An administrator will notify you of acceptance into the pharmaceutical internship program within a specified time frame, if selected.

Tip

Pharmaceutical interns are not graded, but are given opportunities to evaluate and discuss their progress with their facilitators and the Department of Pharmacy. Simply put, an intern's focus, ambition and enthusiasm will be the key determiners in his or her internship success.

About the Author

Chiara Sakuwa has been a writer since 2005. Her work has appeared in publications such as the "Liberty Champion" newspaper and "The New World Encyclopedia" project. She is also the author of the novel "The Lady Leathernecks." She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Campbell University and a Master of Criminal Justice from Boston University.